The way Ken Cribb sees it, the Bluffton High football team was a handful of plays away from a 9-2 record and state playoff appearance.

As it was, the Bobcats finished 6-5 and a victory or two short of the postseason, in which it reached at least the semifinals the previous three years.

“Football is about the breaks and no matter how many you graduate or how many injuries you have, you’ve got to make plays at the right times,” said Cribb, who completed his fourth season as Bluffton’s coach last month. “That was a lesson for us.”

The Bobcats certainly were hit hard by attrition.

In the offseason, they replaced a large and record-setting graduating class that played for the SCHSL Class AAA title as juniors in 2011. Most of their top veteran playmakers missed time with nagging injuries, forcing underclassmen into the starting lineup earlier than the coaching staff anticipated.

But Cribb acknowledged most prep football teams have obstacles to overcome.

This time around, the Bobcats simply didn’t make all the key plays they did in seasons past. They lost critical region games by eight points to Beaufort and by 10 points to Summerville. There also was a one-point loss to arch-rival Hilton Head Island and a three-point loss at South Effingham (Ga.).

“I’m real proud that we played our best football at the end of the season, throughout most of the region, especially the last two weeks,” Cribb said.

Back for more

Fortunately for Bluffton, a large group of returners will reconvene for spring practice with much more experience than it had a year ago.

First-year starting quarterback Alex Davis threw for 2,023 yards and 20 touchdowns. He completed 49 percent of his passes and had 10 interceptions, but he was at his best toward the end of his junior season.

The Bobcats also are set to return junior wing back Laquan Washington, who had eight rushing and receiving touchdowns, and wide receivers Jack Aerni and Terrance Heyward. Aerni led the team in receptions and touchdown catches. He caught 35 passes for 417 yards and seven touchdowns. Before he suffered a late-season knee injury, Heyward was averaging 29.3 yards per reception with three touchdowns.

Next year’s defense will be led by junior end Shameik Blackshear. The South Carolina commit was second on the team with 59 tackles and five sacks. Defensive back Sheldon Smith (53 tackles) and linebacker T.J. Ferguson (39 tackles) also will return.

“I think they’re as hungry as I am right now,” Cribb said. “They’ve got a bad taste in their mouth because the season finished so soon.”

Talented seniors

Though they were somewhat young this season, the Bobcats still must replace a productive group of seniors.

Super back B.J. Hill was the team’s leading rusher with 602 yards and six touchdowns despite running in only seven games because of a high ankle sprain. Wing back Gerald Roberson was second with 376 yards and a team-high 516 receiving yards. He had 11 total touchdowns.

Senior linemen Josh Darrell, Taylor Gordon and Darren Lunde helped pave the way for that duo. Jae Middleton had three offensive touchdowns before moving over to defense and pulling down three interceptions. He also had a pair of kick return touchdowns.

Linebacker Michael Meyerink “played out of his mind,” Cribb said, with 96 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles. Defensive end K.J. Ford, who holds several NCAA Division I offers, had 34 tackles in seven games after missing time with a broken finger.

Cribb said about five of the outgoing seniors could sign letters of intent to play in college.

“I thought it was a special group,” Cribb said. “I hate to see them go, but I am glad we have so many skill players coming back.”